Megrahi to write book 'which will argue his innocence'

The man convicted over the Lockerbie bombing is planning to write a book to back up his claim that he is innocent, it was claimed today.

Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, 57, is said to have regularly made notes about his time in jail and his conviction.

It was reported that he could even make fresh revelations about the downing of Flight 103 in 1988.

"He'll be writing a book to proclaim his innocence," said Abdurrhman Swessi, who was appointed Libya's consul-general in Glasgow principally to represent Megrahi.

Mr Swessi, who accompanied Megrahi on his flight back to Libya to a hero's welcome, stressed his attention had until now been focused on his release and return home.

"At the time being he's preoccupied with meetings and welcoming visitors so he doesn't have the time to completely focus on it (a book)," he told The Times.

"Insha-Allah (God willing), he has his mind set on writing the book."

Megrahi has terminal prostate cancer and medical experts say he may have less than three months to live, completing a book is likely to be a race against time.

Many relatives of victims of the terrorist strike are likely to be angered by a book by Megrahi insisting he is innocent.

His lawyers had gathered evidence for a second appeal against his conviction but this was dropped r this month to pave the way for his release.

Megrahi's wife Aisha has told how her husband has made many notes during his time behind bars.

If he dies before finishing his autobiography, she said: "I will write a book myself."

Mr Swessi insisted that Megrahi had been made a "scapegoat" for the worst terrorist attack on British soil.

The Libyan was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum of 27 years after being convicted of mass murder following a trial under Scottish law at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands in 2001. Of the 270 people killed in the bombing, 189 were US citizens.

Megrahi was greeted by crowds waving Scottish flags when he arrived back in Tripoli last week. He has also been officially welcomed back by Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

He has been reunited with his 95-year-old mother and other members of his family.

Speculation is growing now that Megrahi may play a part in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the revolution which saw Colonel Gaddafi come to power.